Thank you for all the support for my fic. BMWW fandom is the absolute best!

Big THANK YOU to my friend, Dinasis! Thanks for allowing me to bounce things off of you. :)

Chapter 16

Luthor looked around at his new surroundings, more than pleased with what he had been able to purchase and put together in such a short amount of time since escaping Arkham. It looked like things were finally coming together for him. Now, he just needed to start the next phase of his plan.

He rubbed his hands together with building anticipation as he considered the possibilities, a sly smirk playing on his lips. This would not fail…could not fail. His previous plans to take down the Justice League starting with Wonder Woman were met with nothing but failure; no thanks in part to those that he had foolishly chosen to partner himself with.

This time, though, things would be much different. He had found the perfect person to partner with this time, one who shared his vision. Well, partially shared his vision.

He made his way to the surgical table, reaching out to run the tips of his fingers over the cool steel as his mind wandered down a path that he couldn't wait to experience in reality. If everything went according to plan, Diana would be his and Bruce Wayne would be nothing more than just a distant memory.

The only trouble was finding them. Bruce Wayne had been forced to leave the country on an unexpected business trip and Diana's whereabouts were still a little sketchy. The Justice League had said that she was on leave in preparation for her upcoming wedding, but she hadn't been spotted in Gotham or anywhere else for that matter for the last few days making him wonder what was really going on with his favorite Amazon.

Had something happened to have taken her away from Gotham? Is that why Bruce Wayne was suddenly out of the country as well?

Luthor gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring with the sudden thought that they may have run off to elope, his fists clenching with jealous fury. The notion instantly turned his stomach. If that was the case, the newlyweds wouldn't be happily married for long. Diana would soon become a widow once he was through with them.

He needed to find them quickly if he was going to be able to move forward with his plans. He couldn't afford to waste much more time. The wedding was four days away now. One way or another, he needed to make sure this marriage didn't take place.

"So when do we get to make our move?"

Luthor turned, his eyes falling on his new partner. "Not soon enough," he ground out.

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

"Our favorite billionaire Bruce Wayne is currently out of the country," Luthor revealed, obvious disdain lacing his voice.

"For how long?"

Lex turned back to the specially designed medical table that patiently awaited the arrival of his Amazonian prize. "Not long enough," he spat out. "He's supposed to be back in time for the wedding Saturday."

"So why don't we just go after her now and take Wayne when he returns?"

"She hasn't been seen in Gotham or anywhere for that matter," Lex said with a frown. "I don't know where she is."

"So we go to Wayne Manor and get her."

Luthor's exasperation was escalating the more he had to explain himself. He was already beginning to question this partnership. "The key to getting Diana and keeping her this time lies in Bruce Wayne. We need to get him in order to get Wonder Woman.

"Once we have Wayne, we'll be able to control Wonder Woman. Then, you will finally have Wayne to do with what you want and I'll have Diana."

"Maybe there is something we can do to help move things along then."

Luthor turned back towards his new partner again, his brow creasing with curiosity. "What are you suggesting we do, Hush?"

XXX

Persephone entered her husband's throne room, determined to make Hades change his mind about what he was doing to Diana and her mate Batman. Things had gone far beyond the bounds of logic, bordering on insanity. She couldn't in good conscious let this continue any longer, not with Diana's life hanging so precariously in the balance.

She found Hades sitting on his throne, conferring with Thanatos, their heads close together in deep discussion over something that no doubt meant more trouble for Diana and Bruce. She silently approached, hoping to catch wind of what Hades was up to now.

"She's not going to last much longer," Thanatos told him.

"I should have known she'd never agree to surrender," Hades bit out in frustration.

"Do you want me to bring her back here regardless of what she said?"

"No, let her continue," the god of the Underworld decided as he stroked his black goatee. "I want to see how Batman will handle it when he finds that he couldn't save her. It will be the final nail in his coffin that will permanently break him."

"You're willing to allow your own daughter to die in order to prove a point to the mortal Batman?"

Hades and Thanatos looked up to see Persephone standing before the throne, her eyes blazing with indignation. "I did not do this to her, Persephone," Hades heatedly stated. "Diana decided her fate when she chose to give herself to that mortal. I cannot allow such shame to go unpunished."

"So you're just going to allow her to die?" Persephone cried, taking a step forward. "Hades, even you cannot be so cold that you would turn your back on your own daughter."

Hades stood to his feet, momentarily turning his attention to Thanatos. "Go take care of them."

"Yes, Lord Hades," Thanatos replied with a bow of his head before disappearing from sight.

Hades closed the distance between him and his wife, his hands coming to lightly rest on her shoulders. "My beautiful Persephone," he gently said, his hand moving to cup her cheek. "I tried to save Diana, but she refused to give up."

"Because she knew that if she surrendered in order to save her life, you would never allow her and Bruce Wayne to leave here together," Persephone pointed out. "You have to get them out of there now before it's too late."

"Persephone, I'm doing this to prove to Diana that she deserves far better than a pathetic mortal man. She is the daughter of a god and as such…"

"That's what it comes down to, isn't it?" Persephone pressed. "This isn't about proving anything to Diana. This is about punishing her for supposedly humiliating you by choosing to love a man instead of an immortal god."

Hades' scowled deeply with his wife's revelation, his hands moving to grip her upper arms. "You really think I would go to all of this just because my own daughter brought shame upon me?"

"Yes, I do," she told him. "Diana should be free to fall in love with whoever she wants and she obviously loves Batman. I have seen the depths of their love for one another and it is astonishing to behold. They should be given the chance to live the life they want to share together."

Hades leaned in and kissed his wife on the forehead. "You just don't understand, Persephone," he maintained. "If Diana and Batman survive this, I am more than willing to allow them to have the life that they want, but they must first prove to me they are deserving of it, that the mortal is worthy of my daughter."

Persephone shook her head, releasing a frustrated huff. They were going in endless circles that were getting her nowhere. "Please, Hades," she tried again, the pleading note of her voice chalked with unshed tears. "Please, release them for me?"

"I would do anything for you, Persephone," he replied. "You know this, but I can't change the path they are on. Diana made her decision to keep going. It must be allowed to play out now to the end no matter what it is."

"There has to be something that…" Persephone began.

"Where is my daughter?"

Persephone whirled on her heel to find two women being ushered into the throne room by Thanatos. "Hippolyta?"

The Queen of the Amazons looked up to see Persephone standing beside Hades. "Where is my daughter, Hades?" she yelled. "Tell me where Diana and Bruce are right now!"

"Hippolyta," Hades greeted her with a dark smirk as he leered at her. "It's been far too long."

"Not nearly long enough," she spat out, marching straight for Hades with Phillipus hot on her heels. "What have you done with Diana?"

Persephone couldn't help but be surprised and yet relieved to see Hippolyta here. Hopefully, with the queen's help, they could finally get Diana and Bruce out of this once and for all. She turned towards her husband, folding her arms against her chest as she awaited his answer, knowing in her heart, though, that Hippolyta's presence likely wouldn't change things. Her husband was far too stubborn to bend for anyone…not even her sometimes.

"I cannot allow you to interfere, Hippolyta," Hades responded, returning to his throne. "Diana and Batman have both been put on paths filled with trials to test them and their love for another. If they are truly meant to be together, then they will survive this."

"And how do we know that you aren't secretly pulling the strings to make sure that they fail?" Hippolyta demanded to know, coming to a stop at the steps before his throne.

"I can assure you that I am staying completely out of it," he claimed as he adjusted the sleeves on his robes.

"How are they?" the queen asked. "Are they even still alive?"

"Batman has sustained some minor injuries, but is fairing far better than Diana I'm afraid," Hades revealed. "I must say that I'm rather surprised to see our daughter struggling. I would have expected a little more from her."

Hippolyta's hand flew to cover her mouth, her heart racing with fear. "Where is she? What has happened to her?"

"The Hydra's poison flows through her veins, Hippolyta," Persephone told her. "It is slowly stealing her life."

"No…" Hippolyta gasped, shaking her head as tears pooled in her eyes. "Can't you save her?"

"I sent Thanatos to her with an offer to save her life and she refused it," Hades evenly stated. "She willfully chose to continue knowing it will more than likely result in her death. She's doing it all for the love of a pitiful mortal man. It's rather unfortunate to see her wasting her life just for him."

Hippolyta snorted in response. "Then you obviously don't know Batman if you still believe him to be nothing more than some insignificant mortal. Have you not observed his countless acts of heroism and bravery, the sacrificial way with which he fights and defends others?"

"It is of little concern to me," Hades dismissed with a wave of his hand. "He is still just a finite little man, a speck of dust that will eventually die. Our daughter deserves far better than that."

"It is Diana's life and her right to choose who she falls in love with," Hippolyta angrily stated. "Batman has proven himself more than worthy not only to her, but to the world as well. That should be more than enough for us."

"And I say it's not enough," Hades bellowed, standing to his feet. "This will be seen through to the end no matter what that end is. End of discussion. Take them out of here!"

XXX

Batman pulled his cowl back long enough to rub his eyes burning with fatigue before slowly pulling it back into place. According to the chronometer in his suit, he had been going days with little rest and no food. He was beginning to feel the effects of it despite his resolute determination to get to Diana. It was threatening to slow him down and break him.

Sitting down a rock, he took out his container of water, taking a long drink of the lukewarm liquid. He was going to have to conserve what little water he had left, knowing that he didn't have any way to replenish his supply while he was still trapped down here. He didn't know how much farther he was going to have to go to find Diana or if he was even going to be able to find her in time.

She was dying.

The thought caused a fresh wave of anguish to tear through him. It was killing him not knowing what was happening to her right now or if she was even still alive. She needed him and he wasn't there for her. It was eating him alive and threatening his very sanity.

Unfortunately, he had no idea how he was going to be able to save her from the Hydra's poison even if he did find her. Persephone had ominously told him he'd know what to do when the time came, but he had nothing that could counteract something like this.

He'd need time…his lab to try to create an antidote if there even was one that could be devised in order to save her. Unfortunately, he had none of these things.

He clenched his gauntleted fists as helplessness clawed at his throat, making it difficult to draw a breath. He felt so powerless to stop any of this, to be able to get to her in time. His chin fell to his chest as he forced himself to focus his mind as well as the fierce storm of emotions raging inside of him. Diana needed him to be at his best right now and that's what he would give her.

He might not be worthy of her, but he was damn well going to give his all for her, no matter what the cost would be to himself.

"Well, imagine finding you here of all places."

Batman instantly stiffened with the voice that he had not anticipated on hearing ever again. His hand surreptitiously slipped to his utility belt as he slowly stood to his feet and turned around. He felt a cold chill of remembrance rake up his spine as his cowled gaze fell on a man he hadn't expected to see in his lifetime.

"Devil Ray," Batman tightly greeted him, allowing his cape to drape ominously around him as he stood to his full imposing height.

That day came rushing back to the surface of his mind as he stared down the supervillain that he had killed in Gorilla City. He knew that it had actually been Deadman occupying his body at the time, but it had still been his hand the gun had been in. He had crossed a line that he had sworn he never would. The guilt still ate at him even now.

The only measure of comfort that he'd been able to take away from any of it had been the fact that Diana had been saved by Deadman's actions, but a life had still had been taken and that was not something that Batman took lightly.

"How ironic," Devil Ray finally said. "You took my life and now I'm going to take yours."

"I did not kill you," Batman adamantly stated. "I was possessed by Deadman and you know it."

"Still it was your hand the gun was in…you who fired it," Devil Ray maintained.

"I don't kill," Batman snarled, "unlike you who was prepared to take Wonder Woman's life."

"She had it coming," Devil Ray snapped as he slowly inched closer to the Dark Knight. "The wench had been a thorn in my side for far too long. She'd have been dead long ago from my poison dart if that damned agent hadn't saved her the last time."

Batman clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding in barely contained rage. He had not forgotten about Diana's brief involvement with Agent King Faraday. It had been one of the darker times of his life, driving him crazy with jealousy knowing that Faraday had been pursuing Diana.

While grateful that King had been there to save her from Devil Ray's poison, he wished it had been him that had been there with her that day. He had admonished her later for her lack of backup, his worry over her coming out in a scalding lecture about protocol that had ended in a heated argument between the two of them.

"So how is the Wonder Slut?" Devil Ray asked. "I heard she's around here somewhere fighting for her life."

Batman took an involuntary step forward, a low threatening growl rising in his throat. "She stays out of this," he rasped, his tone dangerous. "This is between you and me."

Devil Ray chuckled as he folded his arms against his chest. "So you really are in love with her? Shouldn't be surprised I guess. I imagine half the League is in love with her, although I would have put money on Superman bedding her long before you."

The Dark Knight's entire body was rigid with an overwhelming need to beat this man, but he wasn't about to let Devil Ray get to him. He needed to get out of this with as little injury as possible if he was going to be able to save Diana in time.

"I guess she prefers the dark silent type," Batman quipped, his voice devoid of humor.

"So how did it feel to hold a gun in your hand and take a life?" Devil Ray pressed him further, determined to get under the Bat's skin. "Did it give you satisfaction knowing that you stopped me before I could kill your girlfriend?"

"I take no satisfaction in death no matter who it is," Batman bit out as they circled one another. "I've dedicated my life to trying to prevent it. Why would I take any pleasure in helping take it even if it was yours?"

Devil Ray seemed to think about it for a long moment before finally responding. "You expect me to actually believe you feel any guilt over the fact that I'm dead? I tried to kill your girlfriend."

"I would've found a way to save her," Batman evenly stated. "Diana is strong. She could've pulled through it."

"You don't know that for certain," he told him. "What if she had died right there in your arms? What then? You can't tell me you wouldn't have reached for that gun yourself in that moment."

"I guess we'll never know what I would or wouldn't have done," Batman said, his fingers tightening around his batarang as he kept the supervillain talking. "Now, let me pass and I'll be on my way."

Devil Ray chuckled in response. "You know I can't let you do that."

"I had to try," Batman replied, ducking just as Devil Ray fired his guns at him, narrowly missing him.

Rolling to the side, Batman threw his batarang at him, Devil Ray deflecting it with his armor covered forearm before firing another volley of shots at the Dark Knight. Bruce dove for cover behind a large rock, but not before being hit in the shoulder by one of Devil Ray's energy shots.

He grunted in pain as he reached into his utility belt and pulled out a bat bomb, throwing it in the general direction that he'd last seen him in hopes of buying himself a couple of minutes to regroup. He leaned his head back against the rock, drawing a deep shuddering breath as he quickly checked his wounded shoulder.

It was bleeding pretty badly, but there was no protruding bone so he'd deal with it later. Right now, he had to figure out how to get away from a supervillain who was bent on making sure that he never left the Underworld or saw Diana ever again.

He heard Devil Ray's jetpack fire up, letting him know that his opponent on the move. He reached for a batbomb in preparation for a sneak attack, swiftly whipping around and throwing it directly at Devil Ray was now standing right behind him.

Devil Ray cried out as the bomb exploded in his face, temporarily blinding him. He blindly threw his arm out, releasing a series of trident shaped stingers in hopes of at least one of them hitting its target. He crouched low to the ground to regain him bearings, searching the barren landscape for his prey only to find the Batman missing.

He didn't have to wonder for long where the Batman had gone to as the Dark Knight suddenly landed on top of him, pinning him face-down on the ground with a loud grunt. "Get off of me!" he yelled.

Batman leaned in, pressing his boot even harder into Devil Ray's back. "I don't want to fight you," he hissed low near his ear. "Let me be on my way and…"

"No deal!" Devil Ray growled as he suddenly flipped Batman off of his back.

The supervillain swiftly leapt on Batman, his fists following in a flurry of strikes. Batman struggled to block Devil Ray's blows, but exhaustion was making his response time marginally slower as well as his wounded shoulder. He felt his ribs taking the full brunt of the Devil Ray's fists, breaking ribs that had only been bruised before.

He knew he was going to have to do something before a rib punctured his lung or worse. He quickly reached into his utility belt, grabbing his taser and pushing it directly into Devil Ray's chest. He fired it, causing the supervillain to fly back several feet with the powerful electrical shock that flooded his system.

Batman quickly rolled onto his hands and feet, coughing up blood as he fought to catch his breath. Turning his head, he caught sight of Devil Ray beginning to recover already, pulling the taser wires from his chest and struggling to get to his feet.

Reaching into his belt again, Batman threw a couple electrically charged bolas at him, wrapping him up and taking him down once and for all. He felt a measure of the guilt he still carried over Devil Ray's death simmering in his soul, but he had learned to come to terms with some of it thanks to Diana's calming presence in his life.

Getting to his feet, he made his way to where Devil Ray lay unconscious on the ground. He looked down at him for a long moment, deciding to finally leave his guilt with the one it had started with. It was time to move on.

It was time to find Diana and end this.

XXX

Diana held her head in hands, silently beseeching her gods to take away the excruciating pain that had settled behind her eyes. She didn't know how much longer she was going to be able to handle this, how much longer she could handle the pain. It was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before.

Her throat felt tight, her panic continually escalating higher the longer she went without finding Bruce. She knew the longer they were down here, the slimmer their chances were of getting out. It didn't help that she was beginning to lose all track of time. It had been days since she'd last seen Bruce and yet it felt like several months.

Not seeing him, not being able to touch him was tearing her up inside…crushing her spirit. She was beginning to believe that this journey of trials was never going to end. She just wanted to feel Bruce's arms around her if only for a brief moment, his baritone voice telling her how much he loved her.

It was something that she never grew tired of hearing, loved the sound of it on his lips and rolling so easily off of his tongue now. She had waited so very long to hear that profession of love from him, for Bruce to finally admit what he felt in his heart for her.

Now, she at last had everything that she had wanted since coming to Man's World – the love of the man who had captured her attention and stolen her heart almost from the moment she had laid eyes on him, a future with him that would hopefully include a child of their own someday.

She just had to figure out a way to find him now, to get them out of the Underworld and away from Hades before Hydra's poison took her life. She could feel the poison growing stronger as it continued to work its way through her body to every muscle fiber, every blood cell.

Deep down, she knew it was only a matter of time, her Meta healing the only thing keeping her alive at that moment. Soon, not even that would be enough to save her. She couldn't dwell on that now, though. Her main concern was Bruce and getting him back to Gotham where he would be safe.

Diana fought back the fresh wash of tears that suddenly burned in her eyes at the thought of never returning to Gotham with him. The thought alone nearly took her legs out from under her as she forced her way through the Fields of Punishment.

The sound of laughter abruptly filled her ears, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Her heart pounded wildly as she spun on her heel to find the purple-haired witch standing there, her hands on her hips and a wicked smirk playing on her lips.

"Circe!" Diana yelled, clenching her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms, drawing blood. "I should have known you would eventually make an appearance."

"Let's just say that I've been patiently waiting my turn," Circe replied with amusement. "I must say that I'm rather surprised that you're still alive."

"I will not gi...give up until I get Batman out of here," Diana stated, fighting back the burning pain that continually coursed through her body.

"It's been quite entertaining watching you struggle through each trial, wondering if you would make it or not," Circe continued to taunt her.

"Glad I could provide you so much enjoyment," Diana coldly stated.

"Well, it could be much more enjoyable if you were actually suffering more than you are," Circe decided with a pout. "I'm sure the Hydra's poison is causing you some trouble, though, so I guess that's a comfort to me."

"Did you just cccome here to tttaunt me?"

"Of course," Circe confessed with a bored expression before checking her fingernail polish. "There's also more to it than just that."

"What do you want?"

"I just came to tell you that I'm going to go visit your boyfriend next," she revealed.

"Stay aw...away from Batman," Diana hissed in rage, taking a threatening step closer towards the witch.

Circe held up her hand to keep the enraged Amazon from coming any closer. "I don't believe there's anything you can do to stop me. You're dying. I can feel your life slowly draining from your body."

"There is plenty I can still do," Diana snapped.

"Hold it there, Daughter of Hippolyta," Circe warned her. "You wouldn't want to damage this beautiful face now would you?"

Diana watched in horror as Circe suddenly transformed herself into the exact appearance of Wonder Woman down to the bracers, boots, hair and lasso. "What do you think?" Circe asked with a smirk as she did a little twirl before the stunned Amazon princess. "Do you think Batman will like it? It seems to be the only thing that turns him on."

"Stay aw...away from him, wwwitch!" Diana yelled.

Circe ignored her, one hand stroking her now long raven hair as her other hand reached for the lasso at her hip. "How do you deal with all of this hair?" she complained.

"Circe!"

"Yes, I think Batman will like this very much. This rope will definitely come in handy. Tell me – who gets to tie who up?"

"Circe, I'm wwwarning you," Diana growled, chest heaving and blue eyes flashing. "Don't dddo this!"

"You know the more you tell me not to, the more I want to," Circe said with a gleam in her now blue eyes. "So tell me what does tall, dark and gruesome like in bed? Is there something that really makes his bat wings flutter?"

Diana could hardly make her tongue work, her vision blurring as she struggled to remain on her feet. The poison was stealing her thoughts, her breath…her life. She couldn't let it win, not when Bruce needed her so much right now. She had to try to keep Circe talking here with her for as long as possible to keep her away from Bruce.

A smile slowly spread across Diana's face despite how she felt. "I know all the things he likes," she informed her conspiratorially. "I know what turns him on and what drives him completely wild…and he can be very wild."

Circe's eyes widened with sudden interest, but still maintained her distance from the Amazon. "Do tell, princess."

"Well, I'm not the tttype to just kiss and tttell," Diana said, lowering her voice in an attempt to draw the witch in closer to her.

Circe unwittingly took the bait, inching closer to her. Diana swiftly reacted, forcing her body to cooperate as she lunged at the purple-haired witch. Her fist connected with Circe's face, channeling as much rage as possible into her strike and knocking her back several feet.

Circle, still looking exactly like Diana, quickly scrambled to her feet as she rubbed her cheek. A hateful sneer twisted her lips as she glared down the Amazon. "You are going to pay for that, Amazon wench," she cried. "I'm going to seduce your boyfriend and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

Diana released an enraged scream as Circe suddenly disappeared from sight, her legs giving out on her as she dropped to her knees. "Circe! Come back here! Leave him alone!"

She received nothing but the eerie haunting cries of the dead occupying the Fields of Punishment. Her blood pounded in her ears as she shook with fear as well as fury, wanting to tear Circe to shreds with her bare hands. The woman was going to try to seduce her future husband, pretending to be her.

The thought made her ill to her core. She needed to find Bruce and stop Circe before he made a huge mistake. The thought of Bruce kissing her…touching her…caused furious tears to immediately pool in her eyes. She covered her face with her hands as the tears began to fall, exhaustion as well as the turmoil roiling inside of her taking over.

She was already on the verge of losing her future…her life. Now, she was going to lose Bruce to Circe and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it.